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DE RUEHRO #0933/01 1241128
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R 041128Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7916
INFO RUCNSCO/UNESCO COLLECTIVE
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 6323

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 000933 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR IO/T (G.ROBERTS), GENEVA FOR WMO DELEGATION 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: SENV TPHY IT WMO
SUBJECT:  ITALY RESPONSE:  PREPARING FOR WMO QUADRENNIAL CONGRESS 
 
REF: STATE 047359 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  Embassy presented reftel non-paper setting out U.S. 
views on the upcoming World Meteorological Organization (WMO) 
Congress to the MFA Office Director for UN Technical Organizations, 
Stefano Nicoletti, and to General Massimo Capaldo, Chief of the Air 
Force's Meteorological Service.  The GOI's response was received 
directly from the Meteorological Service in English, which we have 
edited for clarity.  Italy shares the main thrust of the U.S. 
position and recognizes that all the issues addressed are of 
paramount relevance for discussion during the WMO Congress. 
According to the MFA, its office is in almost daily contact with the 
Meteorological Service.  END SUMMARY. 
 
BEGIN TEXT of the GOI Response to Reftel Demarche: 
 
GETTING BACK TO BASICS 
---------------------- 
 
¶2.  Italy believes that WWW (acronym not defined) Programs are still 
at the forefront of the success of the (World Meteorological) 
Organization.  We would like this to be complemented by major 
coordination for severe weather warnings and, in the near future, by 
efforts on predictability and modeling over a longer time scale, in 
order to be better prepared as a Member to tackle issues such as 
disaster prevention and mitigation.  In this respect, we also 
believe that the WMO still has to find a way to improve the 
management of crosscutting programs that are showing some 
deficiencies in terms of effective results. 
 
CONVENTION CHANGES 
------------------ 
 
¶3.  We would like a proper balance between activities of the 
organization and the correct representation of its objectives in the 
Convention.  We see some deficiencies in the formulation of the 
current Convention.  This is probably due to the fact that when it 
was originally written, cooperation among Members was a target in 
itself.  Currently we would like for the Convention better to mirror 
the various activities implemented by the WMO over the years. 
Therefore, we are not as a matter of principle opposing changes to 
the Convention, but we believe that very careful consideration ought 
to avoid increasing the WMO's commitments beyond their current 
sustainable level, and that changes should be implemented not by 
simple majority, but by a consensus of all the major contributors to 
the Organization. 
 
WORLD CLIMATE CONFERENCE 2009 
----------------------------- 
 
¶4.  Italy in the past has profited very little from global meetings 
in the environment area.  In addition, in a few cases at the 
national level, the real conclusions of these meetings were 
represented incorrectly to decision makers and to the media. 
However, if other Members, mainly in developing countries, feel 
strongly about it and, provide a better focus for the ultimate aim 
of the Conference, we are open to discussion. 
 
BUDGET 
------ 
 
¶5.  Italy does not believe that the WMO has a budget problem, or at 
least, given current initiatives, Italy believes that a nominal zero 
growth budget should ultimately be implemented.  The Swiss franc is 
not a currency experiencing a high rate of inflation, and therefore 
the difference compared to a "zero real growth" budget should be 
made up by efficiencies in management of programs and finances. 
However, with respect to the timing of the budget's yearly 
contributions, in view of the difficulties that some Members 
(including Italy) face in fulfilling their obligations on time, we 
are not opposing an increase in the level of the working capital 
fund. 
 
GOVERNANCE 
---------- 
 
¶6.  Italy is among the proposers of the resolution to allow Members 
to be present as observers during Executive Council sessions.  It 
looks strange that other organizations (NGOs, agencies, etc.) are 
admitted to the working of the Executive Council while Members are 
not.  We believe that, provided that no additional funds will be 
required, the larger participation will be beneficial to the WMO. 
In addition, we believe that FINAC (the Financial Council?) has the 
definitive role in discussions of how major contributors feel 
regarding the sustainability of programs and the budget, and more 
recently, the Audit Committee has taken on the important role of 
monitoring the efficiency and correctness of the Organization's 
financial management.  Both are essential for us, but their terms of 
reference should be properly coordinated. 
END TEXT. 
 
ROME 00000933  002 OF 002 
 
 
SPOGLI